Doorstop, Darwin

SUBJECTS: Exercise Pitch Black; Australia-Philippines relationship; Australian Broadcasting Corporation; Housing; Immigration; Tony Burke & National Press Club; Gambling reform; Gas supply; Luke Gosling

RICHARD MARLES, ACTING PRIME MINISTER: Well, it's great to be here at RAAF Base Darwin. It's great to be here with Air Marshal Steve Chappell, our Chief of Air Force. And Chaps was here two and a half weeks ago with the Prime Minister to launch Exercise Pitch Black, and I'm here at the end. Exercise Pitch Black concludes after three weeks tomorrow, and it has been an incredibly successful exercise. This is our major air exercise that we do every two years. It has involved Australia and 20 other countries. 2,500 personnel have been involved in the exercise, 1,000 of which have been Australians. More than 100 aircraft have participated in the exercise. For the first time, we've had representatives from Sweden and Finland participating in Exercise Pitch Black. Again, for the first time, we've had Japanese F-35s participating, and Indian Rafales. So, Pitch Black continues every two years to increase in complexity and grow the way in which we are engaging with countries around the world. Pitch Black is also a really important opportunity to provide for our engagement with other defence forces, and in that vein, this afternoon I will be meeting with my Filipino counterpart, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro. The Philippines has four FA-50s participating in Pitch Black. This is the second Pitch Black in which they have participated. And as an example, we are the first country to which they have taken their fighter planes outside of their own nation, and it speaks to the trust that countries have in cooperating and exercising with Australia. So, I'm very much looking forward to meeting Secretary Teodoro this afternoon. I know that he is very much looking forward to meeting with his personnel who are engaging in this exercise today. We're also using the opportunity of Pitch Black to make an important announcement in terms of Air Force capability. Today we are announcing that, through an FMS case with the United States, we are purchasing up to 450 Joint Advanced Tactical Missiles. These are the latest generation of air-to-air missiles, which will greatly enhance our Air Force's capability. Importantly, they have a longer range than the current air-to-air missiles that we are using. These missiles will be installed on all of our fighter planes. That is, our Super Hornets, our Growlers and our F-35s, and they will be operating on those platforms soon. This is a more than $700 million purchase, so it's a really significant purchase to upgrade the capability of our Air Force. Finally, can I just thank all the men and women of the ADF, but particularly the Royal Australian Air Force, for the enormous work that they have undertaken to provide for a successful Pitch Black this year. They really have done an incredible job. But I'd also like to thank the people of Darwin and the Northern Territory. This is a really significant Darwin event, and the community getting behind it. We see that every time we have Pitch Black here. But for the 1,500 or so international personnel who have come here as part of Pitch Black, their experience of Australia is their experience of Darwin, and I know that they feel enormously well received by the hospitality which has been shown to them by the people of the Northern Territory and the people of Darwin. So, a heartfelt thanks from the Australian Government to everyone here in Darwin for being such good hosts during Pitch Black. And with that, let me hand over to Chaps.

STEPHEN CHAPPELL, CHIEF OF AIR FORCE: Thank you, Acting Prime Minister. Thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome back to RAAF Base Darwin for the final couple of days of Exercise Pitch Black 2026, another phenomenally successful exercise, one that we hold every two years and have done since the early 1980s. This century, however, we continue to grow Exercise Pitch Black, with more and more of our international partners participating. And this year, as you heard the Acting Prime Minister say, we had a total of 21 nations, including our own, here in Pitch Black, over 100 aircraft and over 2,500 personnel. We're really aiming to achieve three things with Pitch Black. The first is to continue to build and nurture those relationships across all of our air forces and defence forces, at the personal level all the way through to the organisational level, across the 21 nations. You cannot surge trust when you need it, and so this is a great opportunity for us to continue to build those relationships, build those trusting relationships, so that we can continue to respond on behalf of our nations to ensure that we have a stable, secure and prosperous region. The second reason we exercise here in Pitch Black is to provide a high-end air combat training environment for all of the nations. It's to enhance our tactical prowess, and it's also to enhance our interoperability, our ability to work as a single team, despite the fact that we come from all over the globe, we speak numerous languages, and over two-thirds of our participants speak English as a second language. So it's a huge testament to everyone's professionalism that we generate and deliver air power to a high level of tactical proficiency, and also a high degree of aviation safety. And the third reason that we are here today is as 21 nations standing together, to whom it may concern, sending a signal of deterrence, a signal of solidarity, to again reinforce our capabilities and ensure that we do have that secure, stable and prosperous region, whichever region of the world our participants are in. Finally, I'd like to echo the Acting Prime Minister's words around the Darwin and Northern Territory community. We've been running Pitch Black, as I said, for over 40 years. The Northern Territory has been a great host through all those exercises. We really appreciate their support. We really appreciate the support here of the folks in Darwin through the exercise season, not just Exercise Pitch Black. Exercise Diamond Storm, Southern Cross and Pitch Black, and our Singaporean friends will be staying on for a few more weeks of training here as well. Thank you for your support. I know you enjoyed the Mindil Beach flight paths in the first week. I know you enjoyed the open day last Saturday, where we had over 22,000 people visit RAAF Base Darwin and meet our aviators from the participating nations, see the aircraft, and we really appreciate your support. So thank you very much. Thanks, ladies and gentleman.

JOURNALIST: Sir, just on the air-to-air missiles, what prompted that decision? How long has it been in the pipeline for?

MARLES: Well, it's been in the pipeline for a while. I mean, what's prompting it is really the force posture and force structure that we've set out in the Defence Strategic Review, and now two successive National Defence Strategies. And we talk about seeking to build impactful projection, seeking to build a Defence Force which can project further, and what these missiles represent is longer-range air-to-air missiles for our Defence Force. So it's very consistent with the overall objective that we are trying to achieve in terms of the Defence Force that we are seeking to build.

JOURNALIST: The new parliamentary committee on defence has been asked to examine how Australia can prepare for the impacts of war. Is this a possibility regular Australians should be thinking about?

MARLES: Well, what we're really talking about here in terms of this reference is building resilience and civil defence preparedness. Other countries around the world do this. It's something that was highlighted in the Defence Strategic Review and has been highlighted in both the National Defence Strategies that have been handed down since then. In highlighting it, it's been observed that really this is not something that we have done in Australia, probably since the Second World War. So it is simply a prudent means by which we think about the way in which our civilian economy, our private economy, would interact with the Defence Force in the event of any contingency. As I say, there are countries around the world who exercise this habitually. We want to look at what world's best practice is, see how we can walk down this path better. I think it's a really important inquiry that will be undertaken by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Defence, and we very much look forward to their work.

JOURNALIST: How likely is a regional conflict in the next 10 years?

MARLES: What we are about is seeking to build deterrence, to prevent any conflict and to provide for the peace and stability of the region in which we live. That's our fundamental aim, and I feel confident that, with the expenditure that we are providing to our own Defence Force, and the way that we are working with countries in our region and around the world, and Pitch Black is literally an example of that, we are able to build deterrence, which provides for a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific.

JOURNALIST: When you speak to your Filipino counterpart this afternoon, they're obviously right smack bang in the middle of the region where it's pretty heated. Will you be discussing those issues and where they are at?

MARLES: Well, I think your description of the Philippines' geography is spot on. I mean, we do work very closely with the Philippines and have done so increasingly over the last few years. Look, we will talk through the broad range of topics around our defence relationship, but it has been growing year on year. When we do Exercise Alon, which is our main bilateral exercise with the Philippines, which we do every two years, in the year that we do it, it is the biggest exercise that we do outside of Australia, and so that says something about the significance with which we regard our relationship with the Philippines. And we continue to do maritime cooperative activities with the Philippines, and we'll be talking about all of that and how we can support the Philippines, but also how we can work together in supporting the rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific.

JOURNALIST: Do you take any advice from Luke Gosling on defence and his role as Special Envoy?

MARLES: I absolutely take advice from Luke, who has a very significant history of his own, and experience of his own, in the Australian Defence Force, and he offers an enormous amount of wisdom in respect of defence.

JOURNALIST: Would you say his role as Special Envoy is more like a backbencher or an assistant minister?

MARLES: So what I might do at this point is just ask: are there any more questions in relation to Pitch Black? And, yeah, I might excuse Chaps and you can ask that question again.

JOURNALIST: Would you say his role is more like a backbencher or an assistant minister?

MARLES: Well, he is a Special Envoy. Special envoys are not ministers; they're not sworn into the executive, but they do play a really important role in the work of the government, and Luke, as the Special Envoy for Defence, has played a really important role in this portfolio. And in answer to the previous question, he has been a really important source of advice for me, as somebody who has first-hand, deep experience through his own service in the Australian Defence Force.

JOURNALIST: Does he have any power over anything in relation to defence?

MARLES: Well, as I said, what special envoys are, they are not sworn in as members of the executive, so they don't have, in that sense, constitutional authority for the administration of the Department of Defence, or the other departments with which special envoys operate, but they are an important part of helping to undertake the work of the government.

JOURNALIST: And is that the reason for not standing him down, that he doesn't have any authority?

MARLES: Look, so a few things to say. Luke is not a member of the executive, and those questions are all completely fair enough. And Minister Butler answered these on the weekend as well. So it is important to understand that special envoys are not sworn in as members of the executive. There is a legal process underway in relation to Luke, so there's a limit to what I can say, but there's also a presumption of innocence that exists here, and Luke is getting on with his job, and particularly getting on with his job as the member for Solomon.

JOURNALIST: Given the Prime Minister, when in opposition, called for Angus Taylor and others to stand down while they were under investigation, not even criminal investigation necessarily, or certainly not charged, would it not be the right thing to do to stand him down while he contests these charges?

MARLES: Well, as I say, Luke is a Special Envoy, and to answer the questions about the role of special envoys, there is a legal process underway. He has the presumption of innocence. Luke is doing his job.

JOURNALIST: Is the Prime Minister taking these charges seriously if he's not willing to stand the member for Solomon down? I mean, he's been charged with assaulting the King's representative. Shouldn't that be enough to stand him down, regardless of what role he's in?

MARLES: There are, as I say, legal processes underway, and we absolutely respect the legal system. There is also a presumption of innocence, and Luke is doing his job as well.

JOURNALIST: Chris Bowen said yesterday he would expect the ABC to apologise to Gina Rinehart over the skit they aired two weeks ago. Would you expect the same?

MARLES: Well, I've spoken about this a little bit over the last few days. I've not seen the video and don't intend to see the video. But, as it has been described to me, it is utterly inappropriate. I think it is exactly right that the ABC should have referred this to the Ombudsman. I'm not sure if the video is still up, but it was being reported as being up in the last couple of days. That surprises me. As the video has been described to me, it is utterly inappropriate. Obviously, the ABC enjoys its own editorial independence, but I think it is very appropriate that this has been referred to the Ombudsman. And I think, you know, we talk a lot, the Prime Minister has spoken a lot, about bringing the temperature down in the way in which we have discourse in this country. And I think, in that context, as well as the fundamental respectful treatment of women, this is a completely inappropriate video.

JOURNALIST: So, given what you've said, would it be appropriate, to take the temperature down, to take the video down and to apologise to Mrs Rinehart?

MARLES: I mean, it surprises me that the video has been up for as long as it has been. Ultimately, these are matters for the ABC. I think it is right that the ABC has referred this to the Ombudsman. But, to be clear, my view is very much that, as this video has been described to me, it is utterly inappropriate.

JOURNALIST: But you don't think an apology is warranted?

MARLES: I am saying it is a matter for the ABC. It surprises me that this video is there. I think it is right that they have referred themselves to the Ombudsman. But I think this video is completely inappropriate as it has been described to me.

JOURNALIST: Could you explain what negative equity means to you, and are you concerned that more people will find themselves in that situation, given the changes the government made in the budget?

MARLES: So, let's be clear that house prices over the medium and long term in this country will continue to grow; they will do so at a sustainable rate. This is early days here in terms of the announcements that we made in the budget, and these are policy changes which take effect over the medium and long term. But what we've seen over the past two decades is that house prices have grown at a much faster rate than wages, and what that has meant is that, for the next generation of Australians, it has put the dream of home ownership beyond them. You know, what we think is that that's unacceptable. We want to see more young people get into the housing market. The home ownership dream should not just be a dream of somebody of my age, but should be a dream of our kids as well. And that's why we've got the 5 per cent deposit scheme, but it's also why we put in place the changes in the budget. Now, you know, this will play out over the medium and long term, which is the basis on which people purchase property over the medium and long term, and over that period of time, housing prices will rise. They will just rise at a sustainable rate.

JOURNALIST: There's a report today that says that there's been a 20 per cent increase in the number of Australians facing mortgage stress over the last three months. I mean, are those people not now living sort of a housing nightmare? And are you concerned that we might see more defaults in the short to medium term as a consequence?

MARLES: Well, I think that question goes to the very point about the costs of housing and why we are seeking to make the growth in the value of property grow at a more sustainable rate than it has over the last two decades. We see a lot of factors which contribute to the way in which houses are bought and sold, and the prices of those houses. Cost of living in Australia has been a challenge for quite some time, and that's why, as a government, since coming to office in 2022, we've been utterly focused on that across the board. That's why we've got income tax cuts for every income earner coming into effect from July of this year that we've put in successive budgets. It's why we've made medicines more affordable, why we've sought to increase bulk-billing, and a range of other measures which are about dealing with cost-of-living pressures. And we will continue to make that very much the core business of the Albanese Labor Government.

JOURNALIST: The Chamber of Commerce, the Migration Institute, and the former Deputy Secretary of the Immigration Department have all raised concerns with the economic and human rights implications of Labor's proposed changes to the migration system. Should Tony Burke scrap, not delay, his speech?

MARLES: Well, we've made a number of reforms in respect to our migration system, and the important point to make here is that, coming out of the peak and the aftermath of the pandemic, what we inherited when we came to office. Since then, we've reduced migration rates by 45 per cent. So it is a significant reduction in migration that has occurred as a result of the policies that we've put in place, and that has been important. I mean, migration obviously plays a really significant part in our economy, but it needs to happen at a sustainable rate, and that's why we put in place the policies that we've done. In respect of Tony Burke's speech, he will be speaking at the National Press Club at the next available opportunity.

JOURNALIST: Did you have a personal disagreement with him during Monday's cabinet meeting on this policy?

MARLES: No, and Tony Burke will be speaking at the National Press Club at the earliest opportunity.

JOURNALIST: Why shouldn't the NT be able to use its own gas to power its own data centres?

MARLES: Well, data centres are a really important economic opportunity for the nation. And we are working with companies around the world who see the stability of Australia and the opportunity that our nation represents as being something that's really attractive in terms of establishing data centres here, and there is an enormous economic benefit that can be there for the entire country. That said, data centres obviously use a lot of power and a lot of water, and it's really important that we are managing this industry and this sector in a way which does not increase power prices for Australians more generally. That is why we are very focused on all of that. It is important that we have a national response to that, and the Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, has made that clear. And so we don't apologise for seeking to ensure that we have national regulation in respect of this, so that when we have this sector, really importantly, growing in Australia, it does so in a sustainable way and a way which is not driving power prices up for Australians.

JOURNALIST: But this large proposal in Darwin, the data centres, is not going to be connected to the power grid. So what's the issue?

MARLES: Well, it is really important that we are managing the use of power and the use of water for data centres in a consistent way across the country, and in a sustainable way which doesn't give rise to increased power prices for Australian consumers. Now, it is a real opportunity to have data centres in Australia, and you can do both here. But it matters that we do this in a sustainable way because, if we don't, obviously this sector will struggle going forward. So getting it right now is what's absolutely critical. That's what the Energy Minister has made clear, and having a consistent national response is really important.

JOURNALIST: When you were in opposition back in 2019, Bill Shorten had a gas pipeline plan for the Northern Territory that you supported at the time. Do you still support that, and do you still think that we should be building pipelines to get the gas that's underground here in the Northern Territory to the eastern states to help with gas prices?

MARLES: We have spoken a lot about east coast gas supply, and that continues to be an issue that we work through. I mean, ultimately, what you're describing is the commerciality of getting gas from somewhere like Beetaloo to the east coast. Fundamentally, the proponents of that need to stack that up. But what we are focused on is making sure that there is east coast gas supply, and we are doing that in an appropriate way to make sure that supply is there and supply is there at an appropriate cost.

JOURNALIST: Is the government really planning to walk away from these gambling reforms?

MARLES: What we want to see is the gambling reforms pass the Parliament. These are the most significant reforms to gambling that we have seen, the most significant protections that we have seen. Investing in BetStop, for example, making sure that we are doing what we can to break the connection between gambling advertising and sport. Protecting our kids so that there isn't gambling advertising at times when kids are watching or listening to the media, the TV or radio. These are really significant reforms, and we want to try and get them through the Parliament. And our focus is on working with the other parties in the Parliament to get them through.

JOURNALIST: Do you see scope for a deal with the Coalition? What's Labor willing to compromise on?

MARLES: Well, what we want to do is get these reforms through the Parliament. As I said, these are the most significant reforms that we have seen. There are really important protections in them. In these reforms, we believe we are getting the balance right here, but it matters to try and get this through the Parliament, and we will work with parties across the spectrum to see this pass through the Senate.

ENDS